Schools & Scouts at
Hearthstone Historic House Museum

Home

Events & Exhibits

Visit Us!
    Hours
    Admission
    Directions

Get Involved!
    Friends of Hearthstone
    Volunteer Opportunities

Schools & Scouts

Hearthstone’s Place in History

A Peek Inside
    Hydro-Adventure Center
    Gift Shop

Contact Us
   Address
   E-Mail
   Staff List
   Donations
   Contributions

Links

School Tours
For an Illuminating Experience schedule a group tour of Hearthstone. Hearthstone is an 1882 Victorian landmark in Appleton, WI. It is the first house in the world lit by a hydroelectric central station based on Thomas Edison’s system. Students will see original Edison light switches and electroliers still in operation, learn about life in the late 19th Century and be able to explore our hands-on Hydro-Adventure Center. We also offer a gift shop with a variety of books, experiment kits and toys.

Tour Hours
School Groups may tour Hearthstone Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.  Tours take approximately one hour, make sure to schedule enough time to visit the self-guided hands-on Hydro-Adventure center.

Scheduling at a Glance
Tours must be scheduled at least four (4) weeks in advance - call Hearthstone and schedule your tour, please have contact information and a rough estimate of the number of individuals expected.

Please call with your final count of students and adults one week before your tour

Full payment is expected at the end of your tour, this includes all students and adult chaperones. Please have one payment for all members of your tour. If prepayment is preferred we will not refund money for absent students. We will give you free passes for absent students to use. We accept checks, VISA and Mastercard

Tour Size
Maximum tour size is 45 individuals. Alternating shifts may be used to accommodate larger groups.

Use and Accessibility
Hearthstone is a museum. For the protection of the collection no food, drink or photography is allowed.  The historic character of the house limits accessibility. Guests will need to climb stairs to enter the house and to access all three floors inside. Arrangements may be made in advance to use the single occupant lift to access the lower and first floor. Reading material and photographs of the second floor are available.

Cost
Under 20 individuals:	Regular $5 per adult	Regular $2.50 per child (5-17)
	Christmas $6 per adult	Christmas $3 per child (5-17)
Over 20 individuals:	Regular $4  per adult	Regular $2 per child (5-17)
	Christmas $5.50 per adult	Christmas $2.50 per child (5-17)

Parking Facilities
Buses may not pull into or park in Hearthstone’s driveway. Passengers will be met at the bus with instructions on disembarking and entering the museum. The bus may park on one of the side streets. Parking is not available on Prospect Avenue.

Car and van parking is very limited. Cars and vans may park in the front or rear parking areas of Hearthstone or in the grass off to the side of the driveway.  Please do not block the driveway. Additional parking is available less than one block away on State Street.

Discovery Trunks
Hearthstone Discovery Trunks are available to classrooms at no charge; however, we do ask for a $15 deposit refundable when the trunk is returned in good condition. Use the trunk before or after a visit to Hearthstone for a full immersion in history. Other groups (libraries, summer programs and youth groups) may reserve a trunk, if available, for $20. Trunks should be reserved at least one month in advance. Trunks may be checked out for two weeks per classroom. Trunks may be picked up and returned Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Victorian Life Trunks were developed with the 2nd grade curriculum in mind. While learning about their community’s history children have an opportunity to see what life was like for a child at the dawn of the electrical age. Children are invited to interact with objects from the past. Objects include kitchen and household items, toys and games, books, photographs and Teachers’ Reference materials. With these items you can go beyond book learning and experience history. Additional resources include recipes for Victorian meals, instructions for crafts and toys, and games requiring little more than imagination.

Dawn of the Electrical Age Trunks complement the study of science and history. Biographical resources on Thomas Edison explain the importance of the scientific method in his inventive process. Other artifacts place Edison and his inventions in historical context. After investigating Edison, children can trace the evolution of Edison’s inventions; the phonograph, the moving picture and of course electrical systems using reproductions in the trunk. Instructions for experiments provide even more opportunities for students to experience history. Teachers can select artifacts, demonstrations and experiments to fit their needs.

Please call Hearthstone with any questions or to reserve your trunk 920-730-8204.
Trunks funded by Bemis Companies of Wisconsin and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

Badge Workshops for Junior Scouts and Brownies!
A warm welcome awaits your troops when you reserve a complete badge class with Hearthstone Historic House Museum. We currently offer 10 Junior Badges and 9 Brownies Try It style badges.  What makes our badge program so unique is the fact that ALL the materials, instructions, professional staff teaching your badge requirements are included in the cost! Your scout troop can also decide if they would like to work on their badge with or without a tour of the house. All of the badges we have selected have Hearthstone House as its focal point on one or more of the steps you need to complete, and therefore we strongly recommend a short tour if you have time. 

Participation
Hearthstone Historic House Museum does request a minimum and also has a maximum on badge reservations. Our badges require a 10 participant minimum and a 20 participant maximum. We recommend a 1:5 adult helper to scout ratio to help keep the girls on track with our time and projects at hand. We ask that you reserve at least 2 hours for the badge workshop Brownies. Junior scouts we ask 2.5 hours for the badge class. The time we need for these badges that we quoted you ALSO including time for a tour through the house. Being prompt on arrival is VERY important.  We ask your troop arrives at least 15 minutes early to insure time for facility breaks. Food and beverages are not permitted in Hearthstone. We kindly ask your leaders to accommodate your snack needs before or after your visit to Hearthstone. Weather permitting you may use our porches to enjoy your snacks outdoors, as long as you clean up after yourself.  

Scheduling a Badge Workshop
		Please contact Patty Lipka at 920-730-8204 or heartheducator@att.net to schedule a workshop.
		Workshops need to be booked at least 14 days in advance.
		Final count of girls and adults is due 5 days before workshop.
		A non-refundable deposit holding your reservation of $25.00 is due one week before the workshop. The $25.00 is applied to your final payment amount due the day of your workshop.
		If you do not show for your class, your money will not be refunded.

Scout Programming Badge Classes 2007 For Junior and Brownies!

Fees include ALL materials, instruction, and tour of Hearthstone. Adult chaperones tour Hearthstone at a discounted rate of $4.00 per person*. Any sibling accompanying the group can participate in the badge program at the said cost per badge. If the sibling wishes to only go on a tour and is under the age of 17, a $2.00 fee per sibling is charged to your group.

*One troop leader (main organizer) receives free admission per badge workshop.

Spring Fling for Scouting April 26, 2008

Sorry - 2008 Spring Fling has been filled. Ask us about 2009.
                       
Hearthstone Historic House Museum will be hosting our second annual SPRING FLING FOR SCOUTING on Saturday April 26, 2008. This will be a day of making new friends, networking for our special leaders, learning about cool science and art, all wrapped up in a little local history and the first home in the world lit by water powered electricity!

Reservations are Required. Two sessions are Available. 

• Morning Session from 9:30 – 12:00 pm
              or
  
• Afternoon Session 12:30-3:30 pm

Cost:  
      $10.00 per Scout (Daisy, Brownie, Junior)
      Non-Scout Siblings $10.00 each
      Adult leaders/parents/chaperones $5.00 each

Girls will be offered over 10 HANDS-ON activities and will jump start over 15 badges!  Scouts are encouraged to try all activities including:
		Solar/renewable energy
		Bird house gourds
		Victorian Arts
		And more

PLUS:

	Scouts get a goodie bag to take home to remember the day Light refreshments for everyone For our out of town scouts, we have a very special over night package at an area resort

Reservations and More Information